DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said her government is committed to reduce poverty 10 percent more from existing 24 percent in the country.

The premier said, “At present, poverty rate has been deceased to 24 percent from 40 percent of 2005 and we will reduce 10 percent more.”

More than 5-crore people have become middle class income earners from low income earners. Over 1 crore people have been employed in both government and private sectors, she added.

The premier was addressing the inaugural ceremony of Dhaka International Trade Fair-2015 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in Sher-E-Bangla Nagar area of the city.

Hasina said that country’s gross domestic product (GDP) has increased to 6.2 percent gradually for several years. Per capita income has increased to $1,200 from $630 of 2005-2006 fiscal and foreign reserve stood at $22.23 billon now, she added.

The premier said the country has eyed to increase export earnings from ready made garment (RMG) to $50 billion by 2021 to keep existing position in RMG across the globe.

“I’m giving assurance of providing all possible cooperation to you from my government,” Hasina told the audiences.

Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) vice chairman Shubhashish Bose delivered the welcome speech while Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Commerce Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed, among others, spoke at the function.

BDST: 1425 HRS, JAN 01, 2015